Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

GENESIS 6:20KJV
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Genesis 6:20 (KJV)

What does Genesis 6:20 mean?

Genesis 6:20 says that different kinds of birds, livestock, and all creatures that crawl on the earth will come to Noah in pairs, so that they can be kept alive during the flood. The verse emphasizes that two of every sort will come to Noah, not that Noah has to go out and gather them himself.

God is speaking to Noah, giving him instructions about how to preserve animal life through the coming flood. The verse highlights the variety of animal life—birds, cattle, and creeping things—and stresses that each will come "after their kind," meaning according to their distinct groups or species. This sets up the practical details for how Noah's ark will serve as a means of survival for both humans and animals during the flood.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 6:20

  • "fowls" (עוף, ʿôph): This word refers broadly to flying creatures, not just birds as we think of them today. It can include any winged animal, which helps us understand the range of creatures God intended to preserve.
  • "kind" (מִין, mîn): This term means a group or category, often understood as a basic type or species. The repetition of "after their kind" underlines that the animals were preserved according to their natural groupings, not mixed or hybridized.
  • "cattle" (בְּהֵמָה, behemah): This word usually refers to domesticated animals or larger land animals, not just cows. It covers a range of livestock, showing the scope of animals included.
  • "thing" (רֶמֶשׂ, remes): This refers to creeping or crawling creatures, such as reptiles, insects, or small animals that move close to the ground. Including these highlights the completeness of God's instructions.
  • "alive" (חָיָה, chayah): This verb means "to live" or "to keep alive." The focus is on preservation—Noah's task is to ensure these creatures survive the flood.

Why Genesis 6:20 matters

  • Genesis 6:20 clarifies that Noah does not have to gather the animals himself; God says the animals "shall come unto thee," showing God's role in bringing them.
  • The repeated phrase "after their kind" emphasizes the preservation of the natural order and diversity of life, not just a few individual animals.
  • This verse connects to the larger narrative by explaining how animal life is included in God's plan of rescue, not just human life, highlighting the scope of God's care in the flood story.

Where else these words appear

“thing” Hebrew H7431 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Psalms 104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

“kind” Hebrew H4327 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
  • Genesis 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
  • Leviticus 11:29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

“fowls” Hebrew H5775 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
  • Leviticus 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
  • Psalms 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.